Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

"Kill them all! Tonight we bathe in Orc blood!" - Sergeant Mikhail Amensure, Luskan Militia

My earliest and fondest memories are of playing with my sister Lauren on our family farm along the Blackford Road outside the city of Luskan. Mother and father provided well for us children until that fateful night when the Orc warband showed up. I was sleeping when the screams began. I awoke and ran outside where I saw father lying face down in a growing pool of blood with mother bent over him weeping. Mother never saw the Orc that killed her. I did, however, see the Orc that shot me in the chest with his war bow. The vile creatures obviously thought that they had killed me. I was only 10 summers old.

I awoke several hours later on a litter. A band of Luskan Militia, hunting Orc's, had come across our farm and found me and my sister Lauren.

A family in Luskan took Lauren and I in and raised us as their own. When I reached 17 summers I enlisted in the Luskan Militia. We killed many, many Orc's. We hunted them, we raided their camps, we killed them in their sleep, and we ambushed them and killed them to the last soul. No compassion and no mercy.

After serving 4 years in the Militia, I have taken it upon myself to get out and see the world. I secured passage on a ship headed South and ended up at Roaring Shores and eventually made my way to Baldurs Gate. I look forward to the day that Lauren can join me here.

I awoke with a start this morning with vivid images of a dream still in my head. Trolls, blood and fire. I believe it is a sign from my master Garagos. I must seek out a burning weapon and head to the Sea Cave near Candlekeep!

I inquired at every merchant from Baldurs Gate to Candlekeep, including the auction house at the Friendly Arm Inn, in search of a flaming weapon. I then raided every ruin and cave that I know of in search of the same and came to the sad conclusion that I would have to ask someone for assistance.

Approaching the Friendly Arm Inn from the North, I noticed several individuals standing around the campfire and decided that now was as good a time as any to introduce myself and inquire about the flaming weapon. As luck would have it I recognized the pretty little halfling, Captain Belladonna of the Pirates Nevermore. I made my introductions and inquired about the flaming weapon, preferably a mace or morningstar. The male user of magic, who shall remain nameless, informed me that he could craft the weapon for me. When I asked how much for this service, he replied, "Nothing more than a smile." I am by nature a trusting individual so I looked him in the eye and paid him his 'smile'. He told me to wait by the fire as he turned to head back to the Friendly Arm Inn. A short time later a halfling appeared out of thin air announcing that he was a courier with a delivery to make. After introductions were made he delivered to me a shiny new mace rippling with magical energy. I thanked the courier and was on a high knowing that I would surely gain my masters favor by completing his quest for troll blood. I said my goodbyes and headed South to the Lions Way.

When I arrived in the area of the Sea Cave I happened across a druid whom I had befriended days earlier. He was in company with a hooded user of magic and it was decided that they would accompany me on my quest. We entered the cavern and shortly thereafter ran into the first troll. I slashed and stabbed him with 'Bloodreaver' until he sat on the ground exhausted. Seizing the opportunity, I pulled the mace and gave him a good whack and nothing happened! Two more hits with the mace and I realized that I had been deceived by the man at the campfire. As the troll climbed back to its feet, fully regenerated and healed, my druid friend cast a fire enchantment upon 'Bloodreaver'. We killed trolls for hours! When we finished we were exhausted and covered head to foot in troll blood. Garagos will be pleased!

As I slowly head back towards the Friendly Arm Inn and contemplate the events of the day I have come to realize that the deception was part of the plan that Garagos has for me. Perhaps it was a test of how I would react under adverse conditions or perhaps it was because I had requested a blunt weapon rather than an edged one to spill more blood. These questions are best left for the clerics and priests of Garagos. I am just content in the knowledge that Garagos was working through the man at the campfire and I will return his mace with another smile. All praise Garagos!